Job Description

Experienced Finance Officer – School MAT Head Office

School Type
Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) – Head Office / Professional Support Function (PSF)

Contract Type
Full-time, Monday to Friday
Permanent / long-term opportunity
Please only apply if you are seeking full-time work.

Salary
£38,000 – £49,000 per annum
Salary dependent on experience and qualifications

Job Purpose

We are currently seeking an experienced Finance Officer to join the Professional Support Function (PSF) at the head office of a successful Multi-Academy Trust.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced school or academy finance professional looking to take the next step in their career. Working as part of the central finance team, you will provide high-quality financial support across the Trust and help ensure robust financial management, reporting and compliance.

The successful candidate will have strong previous finance experience, ideally gained within a school, academy or Multi-Academy Trust environment, and will be confident working with budgets, financial systems, reconciliations and management information.

Key Responsibilities – Finance & Trust Support

• Support the effective day-to-day financial management of the Multi-Academy Trust
• Assist with budget preparation, monitoring and forecasting across the Trust
• Produce accurate financial reports and management information
• Complete bank, balance sheet and control account reconciliations
• Monitor income and expenditure against agreed budgets
• Support month-end and year-end financial processes
• Process and oversee purchase orders, invoices and payments
• Support accounts payable and accounts receivable functions
• Assist with payroll-related financial processes where required
• Work closely with finance colleagues, senior leaders and individual academies
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records
• Support internal and external audit requirements
• Identify financial discrepancies and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken
• Ensure financial procedures are followed consistently across the Trust
• Support the continued development and improvement of financial systems and processes
• Maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive financial information

Person Requirements

• Significant previous experience working within a finance role is essential
• Previous experience within a school, academy, Multi-Academy Trust or education finance environment is highly desirable
• Strong understanding of financial processes, budget monitoring and reconciliations
• Experience producing financial and management reports
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Confident using finance systems and Microsoft Excel
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues at different levels of an organisation
• Professional and confidential approach when handling financial information
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a central finance team
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to obtain one)
• Two satisfactory professional references

Qualifications

Relevant finance qualifications are highly desirable, which could include:

• AAT
• ACCA
• CIMA
• ACA
• CIPFA
• Relevant accounting or finance degree

Candidates who are qualified by experience and have substantial school, academy or MAT finance experience are also encouraged to apply.

What New Directions Education Ltd Offers

• Dedicated education consultant support
• Competitive salary of £38,000 – £49,000 per annum
• Opportunities within school and Multi-Academy Trust central support functions
• Ongoing support throughout the recruitment process
• Long-term career opportunities within education
• Recommend a friend and receive £150 once they complete 10 days of work
• Referral bonuses available to both new and existing candidates
• Excellent reputation within education recruitment

This role would particularly suit an experienced School Finance Officer, Senior Finance Officer, Academy Finance Officer, MAT Finance Officer or Assistant Management Accountant looking to progress within a Multi-Academy Trust environment.

New Directions Education Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.